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He pulled the third bell from the bottom； and was admitted by
another child； the daughter of the woman he was in search of。 He
gave the little thing sixpence； and asked for her mamma。 The child
led him upstairs。
Mrs。 Higgins was the wife of a carpenter who from want of employment
one winter had decided to marry。 Afterwards they both took to
drink； and sank into desperate circumstances。 A few chairs and a
table were the chief articles of furniture in the third…floor back
room which they occupied。 A roll of baby…linen lay on the floor；
beside it a pap…clogged spoon and an overturned tin pap…cup。
Against the wall a Dutch clock was fixed out of level； and ticked
wildly in longs and shorts； its entrails hanging down beneath its
white face and wiry hands； like the faeces of a Harpy （'foedissima
ventris proluvies； uncaeque manus； et pallida semper ora'）。 A baby
was crying against every chair…leg； the whole family of six or seven
being small enough to be covered by a washing…tub。 Mrs。 Higgins sat
helpless； clothed in a dress which had hooks and eyes in plenty； but
never one opposite the other； thereby rendering the dress almost
useless as a screen to the bosom。 No workbox was visible anywhere。
It was a depressing picture of married life among the very poor of a
city。 Only for one short hour in the whole twenty…four did husband
and wife taste genuine happiness。 It was in the evening； when；
after the sale of some necessary article of furniture； they were
under the influence of a quartern of gin。
Of all the ingenious and cruel satires that from the beginning till
now have been stuck like knives into womankind； surely there is not
one so lacerating to them； and to us who love them； as the trite old
fact； that the most wretched of men can； in the twinkling of an eye；
find a wife ready to be more wretched still for the sake of his
company。
Edward hastened to despatch his errand。
Mrs。 Higgins had lately pawned the workbox with other useless
articles of lumber； she said。 Edward bought the duplicate of her；
and went downstairs to the pawnbroker's。
In the back division of a musty shop； amid the heterogeneous
collection of articles and odours invariably crowding such places；
he produced his ticket； and with a sense of satisfaction out of all
proportion to the probable worth of his acquisition； took the box
and carried it off under his arm。 He attempted to lift the cover as
he walked； but found it locked。
It was dusk when Springrove reached his lodging。 Entering his small
sitting…room； the front apartment on the ground floor； he struck a
light； and proceeded to learn if any scrap or mark within or upon
his purchase rendered it of moment to the business in hand。
Breaking open the cover with a small chisel； and lifting the tray；
he glanced eagerly beneath； and foundnothing。
He next discovered that a pocket or portfolio was formed on the
underside of the cover。 This he unfastened； and slipping his hand
within； found that it really contained some substance。 First he
pulled out about a dozen tangled silk and cotton threads。 Under
them were a short household account； a dry moss…rosebud； and an old
pair of carte…de…visite photographs。 One of these was a likeness of
Mrs。 Manston'Eunice' being written under it in inkthe other of
Manston himself。
He sat down dispirited。 This was all the fruit of his tasknot a
single letter； date； or address of any kind to help himand was it
likely there would be？
However； thinking he would send the fragments； such as they were； to
Graye； in order to satisfy him that he had done his best so far； he
scribbled a line； and put all except the silk and cotton into an
envelope。 Looking at his watch； he found it was then twenty minutes
to seven； by affixing an extra stamp he would be enabled to despatch
them by that evening's post。 He hastily directed the packet； and
ran with it at once to the post…office at Charing Cross。
On his return he took up the workbox again to examine it more
leisurely。 He then found there was also a small cavity in the tray
under the pincushion； which was movable by a bit of ribbon。 Lifting
this he uncovered a flattened sprig of myrtle； and a small scrap of
crumpled paper。 The paper contained a verse or two in a man's
handwriting。 He recognized it as Manston's； having seen notes and
bills from him at his father's house。 The stanza was of a
complimentary character； descriptive of the lady who was now
Manston's wife。
'EUNICE。
'Whoso for hours or lengthy days
Shall catch her aspect's changeful rays；
Then turn away； can none recall
Beyond a galaxy of all
In hazy portraiture；
Lit by the light of azure eyes
Like summer days by summer skies：
Her sweet transitions seem to be
A kind of pictured melody；
And not a set contour。
'AE。 M。'
To shake； pull； and ransack the box till he had almost destroyed it
was now his natural action。 But it contained absolutely nothing
more。
'Disappointed again；' he said； flinging down the box； the bit of
paper； and the withered twig that had lain with it。
Yet valueless as the new acquisition was； on second thoughts he
considered that it would be worth while to make good the statement
in his late note to Grayethat he had sent everything the box
contained except the sewing…thread。 Thereupon he enclosed the verse
and myrtle…twig in another envelope； with a remark that he had
overlooked them in his first search； and put it on the table for the
next day's post。
In his hurry and concentration upon the matter that occupied him；
Springrove； on entering his lodging and obtaining a light； had not
waited to pull down the blind or close the shutters。 Consequently
all that he had done had been visible from the street。 But as on an
average not one person a minute passed along the quiet pavement at
this time of the evening； the discovery of the omission did not much
concern his mind。
But the real state of the case was that a tall man had stood against
the opposite wall and watched the whole of his proceeding。 When
Edward came out and went to the Charing Cross post…office； the man
followed him and saw him drop the letter into the box。 The stranger
did not further trouble himself to follow Springrove back to his
lodging again。
Manston now knew that there had been photographs of some kind in his
wife's workbox； and though he had not been near enough to see them；
he guessed whose they were。 The least reflection told him to whom
they had been sent。
He paused a minute under the portico of the post…office； looking at
the two or three omnibuses stopping and starting in front of him。
Then he rushed along the Strand； through Holywell Street； and on to
Old Boswell Court。 Kicking aside the shoeblacks who began to
importune him as he passed under the colonnade； he turned up the
narrow passage to the publishing…office of the Post…Office
Directory。 He begged to be allowed to see the Directory of the
south…west counties of England for a moment。
The shopman immediately handed down the volume from a shelf； and
Manston retired with it to the window…bench。 He turned to the
county； and then to the parish of Tolchurch。 At the end of the
historical and topographical description of the village he read：
'PostmistressMrs。 Hurston。 Letters received at 6。3O A。M。 by foot…
post from Anglebury。'
Returning his thanks； he handed back the book and quitted the
office； thence pursuing his way to an obscure coffee…house by the
Strand； where he now partook of a light dinner。 But rest seemed
impossible with him。 Some absorbing intention kept his body
continually on the move。 He paid his bill； took his bag in his
hand； and went out to idle about the streets and over the river till
the time should have arrived at which the night…mail left the
Waterloo Station； by which train he intended to return homeward。
There exists； as it were； an outer chamber to the mind； in which；
when a man is occupied centrally with the most momentous question of
his life； casual and trifling thoughts are just allowed to wander
softly for an interval； before being banished altogether。 Thus；
amid his concentration did Manston receive perceptions of the
individuals about him in the lively thoroughfare of the Strand； tall
men looking insignificant； little men looking great and profound；
lost women of miserable repute looking as happy as the days are
long； wives； happy by assumption； looking careworn and miserable。
Each and all were alike in this one respect； that they followed a
solitary trail like the inwoven threads which form a banner； and all
were equally unconscious of the significant whole they collectively
showed forth。
At ten o'clock he turned into Lancaster Place； crossed the river；
and entered the railway…station； where he took his seat in the down
mail…train； which bore him； and Edward Springrove's letter to Graye；
far away from London。
XVII。 THE EVENTS OF ONE DAY
1。 MARCH THE THIRTEENTH。 THREE TO SIX O'CLOCK A。M。
They entered Anglebury Station in the dead； still time of early
morning； the cloc